Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-02
THE MASS MEETING.
A Large Attendance, and an Earnest
and Attentive Audience.

At z o'clock last evening Orton's brass
band pealed forth its strains OF delicious
music before the Grand Opera House, turn.
ing the footsteps OF many Saturday eve
ming wanderers to its vicinity. It needed
I not, however, this incentive to I'LL the spa.
cious building, for as couple after couple
fled by, the observer could see in their
grave, earnest countenances that it was
neither music nor curiosity that brought
them out. They came for q purpose-to
lend their presence to a movement to sup
one OF the crying evils OF the
day the employment OF women
and minors in and about saloons.
Probably one-third OF the audience was
composed OF those who took no particular
interest in tho mooting but woro prompted
to attend through other motives. They
were, however, quiet and orderly and lent
an attentive ear to what was said.
Col. c. 6. Bradshaw called tho meeting to
order and nominated Mr.. W. E. Hall
chairman Of the meeting. The motion was
duly seconded and unanimously carried.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Hall thanked
in a brief speech stated tbs object OF the
meeting. He said it was one dear to the
heart Of every mother in Butte to urge up
on the legislature the necessity Of
enacting some law by which
women and children would
be prohibited from working in or about
saloons, and as it was a step in the right
direction he hoped the movement would re.
ceive the aid and encouragement of all
those present.
Col. Bradshaw then moved that a secre-
tary be appointed. Mr.. Supple was NOM
mated and unanimously elected.
At this %juncture calls were made for the
Rev. Mr.. Blackiston, but that gentleman
not being present the Rev. w. C. Shipper
was invited to address the meeting.
Mr.. Shipper responded and opened his
speech by saying he felt a good deal like the
backslider who was about to offer himself
es a candidate for church rnembership-not
good for much, but he would do for wad-
ding. This brought down the house. The
reverend gentleman said he heartily en-.
dorsed what Chairman Hall had said, and
believed that Butte had arrived at that
point in her history where she could no
longer afford to wink at the evil OF women
dealing out liquor with their fair hands
and winning ways. The speaker said he
depended upon women singing beer. ZAP
plause.) He referred to the Ceur d'Alene
country and Of the class Of women who
went there with the first rush Of prospec.
tors, and appealed to those who were there
at the time il they thought those women
built up that section.
He referred to the trial which had lust
in which the Sunday law cut q fig.
ure, and said that that law had been upon \
the statute books of the Territory fourteen
years, and that this was the first time an
had been made to punish its |
After q few more remarks the |
the house.
Col. Bradshaw moved that a committee |
OF three be appointed by the Chair to draft
expressive OF the sense OF the |
meeting. The Chair appointed Mr.. H. M. |
Patterson. Rev. j. r. Russell and another |
gentleman whose name was not heard. The |
retired to prepare the resolu-
Professor Smith being called for made a
short address in which he expressed his
hearty sympathy with the subject of the
meeting and with all those who advocated
public decency. He thought our legislators
should prohibit the sale OF Intoxicating
liquors in everyden OF vice in the Territory,
md that II somthing we're not'done to &C.
:omplish that end Providence would
top in and punish the people for permit.
ling them to continue.
A communication was read by the chair
rom the Rev. Mr.. Wood who said he was
lnavoidably detained from attending the
meeting, but thafhe would heartily cooper.
tie with the movers in an eudsavor to OBJ
ain the object sought by it.
The Q Mr.. Russell being called upon,
made q telling speech. He paid a high
to Messrs. Gordon & Richie
Ia nnFI0hk and h@ns,~nh1> hr.s->~. 49, l
Ind declared that it was not those gentle.
men be opposed, but their business was
vhat he objected to. He said he did not
the White bill covered the ground. It
vas net broad enough. He stood in with
he press OF the city, and favored the en-.
lctment OF q law that took in all the I
,laces OF vice where liquor was sold. He !
hought the sentiment had gone abroad
hat q man could not be q man until he !
lad taken in the Comique, the Arion
nd the Newport. He wanted to
orreet that impression and hoped the re- ,
would be strong enough to cover I
ii these matters. c
The Rev. ". E. King was the next l
!peaker introduced. He was in favor Of {
he White variety bill; wanted women ex- 6
iuded from such places Al the Comique, :
he Arion and the Newport, and from ali 9
ther places where intoxicants are sold. I
he speaker also wanted men excluded Z
rom them. He thought the same right q
xisted to exclude men that existed to ex- q
lude women. He said that Butte had been
allied the wickedest city in the West, and
Q hoped Mr.. Whites bill would 9 so
hat some OF the wicked places might be
losed up. The reverend gentleman was =
:equently interrupted by the applause Of q
he audience, and sat down amid the claD- 8
ing Of hands. 7
The Chairman on Resolutions now ap. !